
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The QKD-GEO mission is the most advanced civil project in the world in this area. It will produce unhackable ground-orbit keys that not even the most advanced quantum computers will be able to break.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a disruptive technology that goes beyond current optical communication models to offer a completely new paradigm in the field of information and communication security, based on the quantum properties of photons, a first step towards a future quantum internet.
With funding from EU recovery funds through PERTE Aeroespacial, the project is an initiative of Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, whose contracting is managed by the Spain's Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), that will allow Spain to position itself in the European Commission's European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative.
Thales Alenia Space in Spain is leading a large industrial consortium of Spanish and other European companies, with Hispasat in charge of the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan.
Thales Alenia Space_E.Briot
Madrid, January 21st, 2025 - Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Hispasat, Redeia's satellite services operator, have announced the start of the development, manufacturing, verification, and validation phase of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain's quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. With a budget of 103.5 million euros, the QKD-GEO mission is a project initiated by the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PERTE Aeroespacial), for which contracting is managed by CDTI.
A paradigm shift in secure communications
The advent of quantum computers is providing much greater computational power than traditional computers for specific problems, including prime factor decomposition, which is the basis for current non-symmetric cryptography. This will lead to a paradigm shift in secure communications, as it will be possible for hackers with quantum computers to decrypt current encryptions in a matter of seconds. As such, it is essential to develop a system that allows information to be sent with the necessary safeguards in governmental communications (both civil and military), critical infrastructure management and economically, environmentally and technologically relevant services, as well as in large corporations. This technology also represents a first step towards a future quantum internet, which will represent a radical leap in global communications.
Quantum key distribution through an optical communications system makes it possible to confirm with certainty if the keys have been intercepted, as the integrity of communications is verified continuously thanks to the quantum properties of photons. Today, technology does not allow the use of fiber-optic-based connections for quantum communications for distances over hundreds of kilometers. However, the use of satellites for quantum key distribution is capable of covering large distances, as signal attenuation is lower in free space. Specifically, geostationary coverage at an altitude of 36,786 km, unlike other orbits, makes it possible to establish communications between entire continents with a single satellite, continuously and without the need for complex signal-tracking systems.
A disruptive and pioneering global project
Lasting a total of 24 months, the QKD-GEO project comprises the development of the various components for a future quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. Specifically, it encompasses the development of a quantum payload to be hosted on a geostationary satellite, as well as the associated ground segment. This is a disruptive and pioneering global project, since there is currently no quantum key distribution system in the world operating from geostationary orbit.
GEO-QKD has successfully completed the initial four-month system design phase, in which the system architecture has been established and the various elements of the system have been defined. The geostationary payload consists of a high-precision telescope with its pointing mechanism and integrated electronics, a quantum random number generator, a signal source of polarized photons, a laser beacon, and a processor for generating the keys and implementing the communications protocol. The ground segment consists of optical stations equipped with telescopes for receiving the photons transmitted from space and recovering the keys, as well as an operations center that organizes and controls all system activities, ensuring the smooth functioning of both the space segment and user interactions.
The project also includes a field test campaign with a 140-km atmospheric link between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife. These tests will enable functional validation of the ground segment and the quantum payload under fully representative conditions, prior to its implementation in an operational mission in orbit.
Thales Alenia Space is leading from Spain a large industrial consortium composed of Spanish and other European companies, including Thales Alenia Space in France and Switzerland, and with the participation of several entities specialized in the field of quantum communications, such as the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the University of Vigo. Meanwhile, Hispasat is responsible for the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan, with support from companies like Banco de Santander, BBVA, Telef nica, and Cellnex to analyze real use cases with the banking sector and terrestrial oper
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
14/04/2026
ToolsOnAir and Omnistream Bring Mobile SRT Contribution into Professional 24/7 P...
14/04/2026
Haivision has announced the Falkon X4, a 5G mobile video transmitter for live broadcast and remote production. The device will be showcased at NAB Show 2026.
...
14/04/2026
Founded by veterans of the production-truck world, Stripe TV was born out of a d...
14/04/2026
Grass Valley has expanded its partnership with Studio Berlin, supplying 12 LDX 135 UHD/HDR camera systems and 12 LDX 180 Super 35mm cinematic cameras, including...
14/04/2026
LTN has announced two senior appointments ahead of NAB Show 2026: Mark Romano as Vice President, Multichannel Platforms, and Edward Cox as Vice President, Sales...
14/04/2026
Sennheiser and Italian rental company Agor have begun preparations for their Eu...
14/04/2026
DAZN and ADI Predictstreet have announced a partnership to integrate ADI Predict...
14/04/2026
Deltatre has announced the completion of a direct-to-fan website and app for Leg...
14/04/2026
Daktronics, will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 in partnership with Grass Valley at Booth C2408, Las Vegas Convention Center, April 19-22.
Daktronics will showcase a...
14/04/2026
Backblaze will host a series of partner presentations at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N1259, North Hall), open to all exhibition hall badge holders. Showcase partners i...
14/04/2026
BRAHMA AI will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2415, West Hall), demonstrating its Enterprise AI Content Platform for media, entertainment, sports, and technol...
14/04/2026
Bridge Technologies has announced that its VB440 production probe has been integrated into NEP Platform, NEP Group's software orchestration system. The inte...
14/04/2026
Clear-Com will introduce new products and demonstrate its communications ecosystem for broadcast and live production at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C5807, April 19-22)...
14/04/2026
EZDRM will use NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2260) to introduce the Revenue Security Prism, a framework for combining multiple security technologies to protect streamin...
14/04/2026
Telos Alliance will introduce the following products at NAB Show 2026:
TV and Media
Telos Infinity MK2 Panels: A new generation of hardware control panels for...
14/04/2026
Panasonic Video and Audio Systems North America will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C3509), demonstrating IP- and IT-based production solutions for sports, bro...
14/04/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
14/04/2026
Blackmagic Design will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N2502). CEO Grant Petty s product announcement livestream is available at youtube.com. The company announ...
14/04/2026
The deal establishes a close strategic alignment' between the iconic cinema...
14/04/2026
BIGSHOT Media, with support from Teradek, produced untamed African mountain-bike race' with daily coverage and highlights show
The 2026 Absa Cape EPIC, an...
14/04/2026
The Sports Video Group (SVG) today announced the launch of the SVG AI Innovation...
14/04/2026
Captures a trio of renowned polysynths
The latest software to join AIR Music Tech's extensive catalogue captures the sound of three sought-after polysyn...
14/04/2026
Free offering includes 10 powerful plug-ins
United Plugins have announced the launch of a new bundle that brings together 10 of their pro-audio plug-ins, an...
14/04/2026
Julian Coryell joins virtual session player line-up
Announced at NAMM 2026, Celemony's Tonalic kits DAW users out with real performances by world-class ...
14/04/2026
WESCAM MX -Series EO/IR Systems Provide Critical Visibility During NASA Re-Entry Operations....
14/04/2026
DiSCO reduces uncertainty during the fog of war in modern threat environments an...
14/04/2026
GOES-19 imagery captured by L3Harris-built Advanced Baseline Imager technology helps forecasters issue life-saving weather warnings. Credit: NOAA/NASA...
14/04/2026
For decades, understanding the physical world from space has required a trade-of...
14/04/2026
Ruiz has helped fuel growth for both client-side and media companies, including, most recently, TelevisaUnivision.
He will spearhead transformation, innovatio...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/04/2026
Shotoku Introduces the World to Aura P2 PTZ Prompter Panner at NAB 2026
New system removes PTZ pan restrictions for teleprompter-based productions
Shotoku US...
14/04/2026
Integration of Vantage, Pulse, and Telestream UP with Grass Valley AMPP Ecosystem enables scalable, interoperable workflows spanning live production and file-ba...
14/04/2026
Enterprise growth leader to scale Dalet's next phase of innovation and global expansion
New York, NY April 14, 2026 Dalet, a leading technology and ser...
14/04/2026
Berklee Celebrates Prince's Legacy in Two-Night Signature Series Event Directed by Tia Fuller, the Prince Project (April 16-17) brings together more than ...
14/04/2026
Arooj Aftab Is Anything but Predictable The singular artist explores the juxtaposition of grief and joy, dark and light, in her distinctive sound.
April 14, ...
14/04/2026
Appear launches include XM estate management and new X Platform processing enhancements to add density for next-generation hybrid & IP workflows, X5 is also now...
14/04/2026
Addressing the needs of a new generation's viewing habits, Synamedia launches GO Shorts. The AI-powered module turns existing catalogues into TikTok-style ...
14/04/2026
Vubiquity, an Amdocs company and global leader in technology-led media services, will be showcasing a new end-to-end streaming solution in collaboration with El...
14/04/2026
LiveU today announced a significant expansion of its collaboration with Sony Corporation, introducing integrated support for Sony's file-based workflow solu...
14/04/2026
Open Broadcast Systems (https://www.obe.tv/) has announced that BBC World Service has selected its decoders for IP Television distribution. The high-quality, lo...
14/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 21
Brie Clayton April 14, 2026
0 Comments
Major update adds new Photo page bringing Hollywood's most a...